Operation Citadel - Battle for Kursk, frame 4
--= LF6 =--
Starting base: F53
Freie Jagd!!! You are on a free hunt mission this whole frame, with some restrictions. Your job will be to defend our assets from raids, kill Russian bombers and harass the VVS fighters. The area to protect is primarily the Kursk front line and F53 + F68 in the north. I'd recommend the Bf 109G-6/RVI or FW 190A-4 as they have the guns to deal with enemy bombers and are good for boom n zoom. Drop tanks is a good idea. First sortie fly direct to the front line while climbing as a divertion, but do no engage enemy fighters and run away if the enemy is spotted while still climbing. After this always come in to the target area above 9000 m (30 000 ft). Do not engage enemy fighters below 6000 m (20 000 ft), let them go if they dive out. Try to keep it above 8000 m (26 000 ft), and let the enemy fighters come up to you where you have the speed advantage instead of going down to their altitude. Use boom n zoom harassing tactics against enemy fighters. Be aware the 352nd often comes in with La-5FN's at 10000 m (33 000 ft). You can attack enemy bombers at lower altitudes, but make sure there are no high escort fighters first. After hitting enemy bombers at low altitude, run full speed back to friendly fields ASAP and climb back to high altitude again there before going back to the Kursk frontline.
--= 23rd JG =--
Starting base: F50
See orders below for the sorties
--= 4th JG =--
Starting base: F50
See orders below for the sorties
SORTIE 1
23rd and 4th overwhelm and close F74, then RTB and prepare for the second mission.
* LF6: Freie Jagd! Climb direct towards the Kursk frontline though to start with as a diversion. Try to play cat n' mouse with VVS fighters to keep them from supporting at F74.
* 23rd: Have a few guys in bombers, the rest in fighters. 23rd Bombers climb direct to F74 and hit it hard. 23rd Fighters also climb direct to F74 and engage any enemy fighters early and aggressively.
* 4th: Use a few Bf 110's, have them climb direct to F74 and drop on the field from 10 000 ft. 4th Fighters climb at hdg 20 as divertion, then turn in on F74 before hitting the vert-4 line. Have a single wingpair keep going to the front line to play cat n mouse with VVS fighters, but they are not to engage the enemy. Overwhelm the Russians at F74. Everyone in 23rd and 4th RTB once the field is closed.
SORTIE 2
This will be similar to the first sortie in frame 3. We will hit F55 primarily. Do note that the bombers must keep at 20 000 ft, do not dive down to bomb if cloudy, find another target instead.
* LF6: Freie Jagd!
* 23rd: Combined arms! Two pilots in bombers to hit F55. Follow the route and come in at 20 000 ft. The rest of 23rd pilots in fighters or tanks as you see best.
* 4th: 3+ pilots in bombers. Follow the route and come in at 20 000 ft. Form up with the 23rd bombers. The rest of 4th pilots in escort fighters.
SUBSEQUENT SORTIES
* LF6: keep up the Freie Jagd, assist other squads where possible.
* All other squads use bombers, fighters and tanks as you see best. Cooperate and try to engage the VVS together. Call for assistance and give as detailed coordinates as possible for mutual support when engaging the enemy. Squads assist each other.
* 4th FG will send two capable pilots running a special mission to first land at F66 in the 3.7 grid, and from there launch a He-111 and a Ju-87D to close F29 and F19 in the 4.7 grid. The He111 first hits ack at F29, then ack at F19, the Ju-87D bombs/strafes both bases shut while the He-111 lands. The He-111 pilot then takes a Ju-52 and captures both fields.
<S>
/Robert
4. Jagdgeschwader
"Vierter aber zuerst!"
